Islamic Ministry has re-opened the mosques in Male’ Area but said that the ban on communal prayers in the capital city would remain until further notice.
In a statement, the Ministry said the ban on communal prayers in the Male’ area due to the spread of Covid-19 had expired at Asr prayers (late afternoon prayers) today and the ministry has now allowed the mosques in the area to open their doors for those who want to pray in the mosques without making congregations.
Islamic Ministry said it made this decision in light of the current Covid-19 situation in the country with the government set to implement the second phase of lockdown ease tomorrow.
The Ministry also said that it took the advice of the TAG team at the NEOC and HPA as well as religious scholars before announcing the decision.
It said that the Male’ City Council should ensure that the mosques which opens do not have carpets on the floor, floors are cleaned and mopped daily, must ensure that individuals can wash their hands with soap at the mosques and also must ensure that the air-conditioners remained switched-off for now.
The Ministry also highlighted some instructions mosque-goers must follow which include
- Completing ablution from home
- Taking prayer mat to the mosque
- Maintain social distancing while entering and exiting the mosque
- Maintaining social distancing while placing a prayer mat on the floor and praying only on the mat he/she took
- To remain home if an individual has a cold, fever or cough
- To hurry back once the prayer is complete, not linger in the mosque
- Elderly persons and individuals with respiratory illnesses should remain home
- No handshaking in or out of the mosques
- Avoid using copies of the Holy Quran kept at the mosques
Communal prayers were banned in the Male’ area on March 18th while communal prayers were banned in the whole country on the 19th of April. But later on, the Islamic Ministry allowed islands without reported cases of Covid-19 to resume congregational prayers.
It has yet to announce when communal prayers would resume in the capital city but authorities are expected to implement the next phase of lockdown ease next month.
